New Route 29 interchange opens for business (Video)

Staff Photo By Vinny Tennis
Cars exit at the new Pennsylvania Turnpike Route 29 all electronic interchange in Malvern on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The new interchange for EZ Pass holders only opened Tuesday afternoon following a ribbon cutting ceremony.

EAST WHITEAND – Gov. Tom Corbett joined area lawmakers and invited guests Tuesday for the opening of the Route 29 all-electronic turnpike interchange, a day 13 years in the making.

“We’re here to cut the ribbon on a project that I think really demonstrates the small steps it took to get here in a long journey,” Corbett said. “We’ve now completed it, and we can repeat it in many other places across the commonwealth along the turnpike.”

Initial planning got under way in 1999, but ground wasn’t broken until March 2011, as debates were waged throughout the affected areas.

“I do remember there was a rough patch when I was chairman of the board of supervisors in Tredyffrin a couple years back, and I got to know this project pretty well at that time,” said State Rep. Warren Kampf, R-157th of Tredyffrin. “I’m glad we got it through that little bump in the road.”

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Many of the speakers at Tuesday’s ceremony credited a prosperity-over-partisanship attitude for the project’s completion.

“In this area, Democrats and Republicans work as one when it comes to economic development and prosperity in this region,” said State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th of West Whiteland.

Turnpike Commissioner Pat Deon said a lot of attitudes changed over time.

“This is really a great day for us at the turnpike, because as I look around, senators who opposed us as commissioners are now with us,” Deon said. “We have people who were literally screaming at me four or five years ago, and it’s a testament to what can get done if you put your minds to it.”

The interchange, #320, cost $60 million, with all funds coming from turnpike tolls. It is located roughly midway between the Downingtown and Valley Forge interchanges. That 14-mile stretch is the most-traveled of any four-lane east-west portion of the mainline turnpike, with an average of 50,000 vehicles per day.

State Rep. Duane Milne, R-167th of Willistown, is one of many who will experience easier travel as a result.

“I look forward to taking advantage of the opportunity myself to save some time on the way to Harrisburg,” Milne said. “I will save 23 minutes. I’ve already timed it.”

Tuesday’s ceremony took place at the new headquarters of Endo Health Solutions, which sits right off the new interchange.

“The life-science industry that’s housed in this region is going to get another boost, in terms of its ability to bring innovation and value to the region and the population at large,” Endo President and CEO David Holveck said. “I never thought my career would extend enough to see a day like this, so it’s a reward personally to be here.”

Corbett was also on hand for Endo’s groundbreaking earlier this year.

“This building is indicative of what’s going to happen to this whole area, from here all the way over to 202 and Great Valley,” Corbett said. “It’s something I want to see replicated in other areas along the turnpike. It will be a great economic stimulator for southeastern Pennsylvania and a great example of how we can stimulate the economy across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”